A four-week frenzy of moustache growing has come to an end as we bid farewell to Movember for another year.
We’re happy to announce that our Sylvan Lake News Movember team raised more than $1,200 in the month-long fundraiser for men’s health initiatives. And quite a journey it’s been.
More than 30 days ago, we set out with the goal of raising money — any amount — for the Movember cause. With the participation of some hard-working teammates, and the generosity of those who supported us, we managed to exceed our own expectations, and along with other participating groups in the community, helped to keep the Movember conversation going.
At times it wasn’t easy. And at times, the annoyance of having a moustache seemed to make simple tasks like eating and drinking unnecessarily uncomfortable.
In fact, the fundraiser gave me a much greater appreciation for men who wear a moustache by choice!
But one donation we received in particular — which was quite sizeable, I must add — seemed to put the entire thing into perspective. It was given to us by a woman who lost her father to prostate cancer several years ago.
Donating to Movember, she told me, was her way of honouring his memory. What an admirable way of doing so.
There were also plenty of light-hearted moments throughout the campaign, and no shortage of ridiculing about our new facial appearances — mainly among ourselves!
Sean McWade, one of our ‘Mo Bros’ who teaches Grade 6 at Fox Run School, had to work particularly hard for some of his donations, and was made to wear a dress for an entire morning at school. Perhaps unsurprisingly, he forgot to send us a photo!
Overall, the fundraiser was a true team effort, and we’re extremely grateful to everyone who took part.
Thanks must go out to everyone who donated to us in person and online; to Mo Bros Sean McWade, Deshon Lennard and Dwayne Stoesz, who joined myself, Joe Furman and ‘Mo Sista’ Shannon Smelt to form the Sylvan Lake News Movember team; and to Serenella Salon and Spa and Sylvan Lake Barber Shop, who provided free shaves to our Mo Bros at the end of the month.
Credit must also be given to the many other groups, organizations and individuals who held their own fundraisers and Movember-related activities. Mo Bros and Mo Sistas from all corners of the community worked hard to support the cause!
But it must be noted that even though Movember has come to an end, the problems it seeks to address persist. Prostate cancer, testicular cancer and men’s mental health issues don’t simply disappear at the end of November, and require attention very much year-round.
Visit ca.movember.com to find out how Movember aims to address those issues, and learn of the many ways in which you can get involved.